The Cost Of Poverty

Poverty is expensive. Neal Peirce looks at "predatory fiscal devices" that trap millions of low-income Americans.

1 minute read

April 18, 2004, 1:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"Poverty is not just miserable, it's actually expensive, the Annie E. Casey Foundation asserts in its "KidsCount" report...Some of the conditions can't be fixed quickly -- food prices up to double suburban rates in some inner cities that have been deserted by supermarkets, for example. Or rents so high that more than 5 million families are now obliged to spend over half their entire incomes for shelter.

But there's a depressingly long list of predatory fiscal devices that have ballooned in number since 1990. Collectively, they're ripping off low-income America, trapping millions of poor Americans in permanent, high-cost indebtedness."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Sunday, April 11, 2004 in The Washington Post Writers Group

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